Pianotech

Definitely punch them out from the backside, Joe. First, use a hammer to drive the pins flush to the back of the plate, to wake them up and get them moving. Then, use a robust Starrett punch to drive them through the plate. Lesser punches will bend. Driving Steinway hitch pins out requires much force.
David G. Hughes, RPT
Baltimore Chapter

Definitely punch them out from the backside, Joe. First, use a hammer to drive the pins flush to the back of the plate, to wake them up and get them moving. Then, use a robust Starrett punch to drive them through the plate. Lesser punches will bend. Driving Steinway hitch pins out requires much force.
David G. Hughes, RPT
Baltimore Chapter

Joe,
Driving them out from the front would be a tough row to hoe, methinks. First, you'll have to take the factory bend (lean) out gently with a punch to straighten them. They will still have a slight kink, which may be reluctant to pass through the hole in the plate.
I would think any perceived advantage of applying the dry ice would quickly get sinked by the massivity of the plate and be useless. What's required here is force... and luck.
I was replacing Steinway hitch pins on every rebuilding job. They can be bears to drive out, though occasionally they yielded in friendly fashion. 
David G. Hughes, RPT
Baltimore Chapter

Joe,
Driving them out from the front would be a tough row to hoe, methinks. First, you'll have to take the factory bend (lean) out gently with a punch to straighten them. They will still have a slight kink, which may be reluctant to pass through the hole in the plate.
I would think any perceived advantage of applying the dry ice would quickly get sinked by the massivity of the plate and be useless. What's required here is force... and luck.
I was replacing Steinway hitch pins on every rebuilding job. They can be bears to drive out, though occasionally they yielded in friendly fashion.
David G. Hughes, RPT
Baltimore Chapter

Definitely punch them out from the backside, Joe. First, use a hammer to drive the pins flush to the back of the plate, to wake them up and get them moving. Then, use a robust Starrett punch to drive them through the plate. Lesser punches will bend. Driving Steinway hitch pins out requires much force.
David G. Hughes, RPT
Baltimore Chapter

If you're going to knock it out the back, have some method in place to catch/retrieve the pin. The last thing you need is to have a small piece of steel wedged against the sound board.

Joe,
Driving them out from the front would be a tough row to hoe, methinks. First, you'll have to take the factory bend (lean) out gently with a punch to straighten them. They will still have a slight kink, which may be reluctant to pass through the hole in the plate.
I would think any perceived advantage of applying the dry ice would quickly get sinked by the massivity of the plate and be useless. What's required here is force... and luck.
I was replacing Steinway hitch pins on every rebuilding job. They can be bears to drive out, though occasionally they yielded in friendly fashion.
David G. Hughes, RPT
Baltimore Chapter

Joe,
Driving them out from the front would be a tough row to hoe, methinks. First, you'll have to take the factory bend (lean) out gently with a punch to straighten them. They will still have a slight kink, which may be reluctant to pass through the hole in the plate.
I would think any perceived advantage of applying the dry ice would quickly get sinked by the massivity of the plate and be useless. What's required here is force... and luck.
I was replacing Steinway hitch pins on every rebuilding job. They can be bears to drive out, though occasionally they yielded in friendly fashion.
David G. Hughes, RPT
Baltimore Chapter

Definitely punch them out from the backside, Joe. First, use a hammer to drive the pins flush to the back of the plate, to wake them up and get them moving. Then, use a robust Starrett punch to drive them through the plate. Lesser punches will bend. Driving Steinway hitch pins out requires much force.
David G. Hughes, RPT
Baltimore Chapter